EAST LANSING, Mich. — Based on the way things are going at Michigan State these days, it’s almost hard to believe that the Spartans are only months removed from participating in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan State (2-2) is winless in the Big Ten, just dropped out of the national rankings for the first time since 2013 and people around East Lansing who have been accustomed to high expectations and elite results are frustrated and restless.
So is coach Mark Dantonio, though he remains optimistic about the prospects for the rest of the season.
“Nobody felt like we’d be 2-2 at this point,” Dantonio said. “I’m sure most people thought we’d be 4-0. But here we are. It’s a place we haven’t been in a while, but it doesn’t mean we’re not going places … The sky is not falling. We'll rise up again."
For a program that has won at least 11 games in five of the previous six seasons under Dantonio, this is strange territory.
“All you have to do is turn on the TV. That’s the way it is. It’s supply and demand. An instant-gratification world that we’re living in,” Dantonio said. “So, when the good things come, you get an overabundance of praise. And when the bad things come, you get an overabundance of criticism as well.”
The Spartans, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2012 — a 30-6 home loss to Wisconsin and last week’s 24-21 overtime setback at Indiana — are looking to end their losing streak against BYU, which visits Spartan Stadium Saturday (1:30 p.m., MDT, ABC/ESPN2).
Michigan State has been mistake-prone and plagued by injuries. Dantonio has run down the laundry list of his team’s woes, including crucial penalties, dropped balls and poor pass protection, plus the fact that several inexperienced players are learning on the job.
"We're a young football team, so things are going to happen sometimes," Dantonio said. "If you have some inexperience in certain positions, and we talk about how there needs to be growth, and for growth to happen you've got to play."
For Michigan State fans, the scapegoat for the Spartans’ struggles has been senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor, who has completed 71 of 117 passes for 918 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
O’Connor has been widely criticized on social media even while his coach and teammates defend him.
“He’s still being the same leader as he was in the beginning of the season, even with all this press and everything, all the fans ganging up on him,” senior offensive lineman Kody Kieler told the Detroit Free Press about O'Connor. “I’m sorry, but you’re not a fan if you’re saying this about your quarterback.”
"The people that sit up with their arms up in an armchair with a big old beer can or soda pop, they're going to have to just wait it out a little bit," Dantonio said.
Despite the prevailing misery around Michigan State, BYU coach Kalani Sitake knows all about the Spartans’ reputation.
“It’s a great program. They’re big, physical, strong guys. Coach Dantonio is a great coach. The last three years they’ve won a bunch of games,” Sitake said. “They win Big Ten championships and they were in the national playoff last year. They’re a great team. They’re coming off a horrible loss in overtime. I know they’ll be anxious to get home and excited to play this game. We’re expecting a physical game. It’s going to be a lot of fun. We’re coming off a win and our defense has something to prove. This is a great week to do it.”
The Cougars know what it’s like to endure a losing streak. BYU had lost three in a row before last week’s home victory against Toledo.
Michigan State is going through this now and the Spartans know the only way to overcome it is by winning.
"They will be ready to play," Dantonio said of his players. "I am quite confident they will be ready to play."
Michigan State Spartans at a glance
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 2-2
Head coach: Mark Dantonio (89-35, 10 years at Michigan State; 107-52 overall, 12 years)
Offense: Sophomore running back LJ Scott has rushed 67 times for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
Defense: Junior linebacker Chris Frey has recorded 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and four quarterback hurries.
Special teams: Senior placekicker Michael Geiger is 2 of 5 on field goal attempts, all from behind 40 yards and has hit all 11 PATs.
Series with BYU: First meeting
EMAIL: jeffc@deseretnews.com